Updated July 24, 2026 09:25 am
As a lifelong local resident of the Sun Valley, Idaho, area, home of the famous Sun Valley Resort, I have lived my life with a backdrop of towering peaks, flowing rivers and vast and clear night skies. From watching shooting stars and sitting around a campfire with my friends and I enjoying the dark, quiet solitude of the winter night sky on our way home, the vastness of the night sky has always been a companion in Sun Valley.
Stargazing at night has long been a draw for small towns, and Sun Valley is no exception. Ketchum and Sun Valley (two towns associated with the resort, along with other towns in Central Idaho, became part of it) Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve In 2017, the first International Dark Sky Reserve in the United States. Now Sun Valley Resort Going one step further, DarkSky has become the first resort in the US to be officially certified by DarkSky International through the DarkSky Approved Lodging and Resorts program.
DarkSky is an international organization with a mission to: protect the nighttime environment and our dark sky heritage by educating the public about light pollution, promoting environmentally responsible outdoor lighting, and inspecting and certifying communities, parks, reserves, and habitats that preserve pristine night skies. While being able to see the stars is obviously a rewarding experience in itself, light pollution (which DarkSky defines as man-made alterations from naturally occurring outdoor light levels) can have a negative impact on many species of animals as well as us by disrupting natural sleep-wake cycles, migratory patterns, and other natural behaviors. Excessive artificial lighting is also a wasted resource, both in terms of carbon dioxide emitted and money spent on unnecessary lighting.
Since the establishment of the organization Since 1988, DarkSky has helped more and more areas preserve their night skies and ward off the negative effects of light pollution. There are several similar resort communities that have received the DarkSky designation in some capacity, such as Breckenridge, Colorado, a Dark Sky community; Marmot Basin, a darksky preserve; Kosmos Stargazing Resort & Spa, a DarkSky Approved lodging destination; and located within the Parc National du Mont-Mégantic, an International Dark Sky Reserve.
dark The Sky-certified Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, a 906,000-acre (1,416 sq mi) area that includes both the cities of Ketchum and Sun Valley, is one of the last large areas of natural nighttime darkness in the country. The core of the reserve comprises parts of three separate designated wilderness areas.
What it takes to earn the dark-sky designation
as part of the reserve, Both Ketchum and Sun Valley are subject to ordinances set in 2017 that regulate current homes and infrastructure and future development, public outdoor lighting and holiday illumination. All of DarkSky’s certification programs are based on its five principles of responsible outdoor lighting: useful, targeted, low level, controlled and warm color. In layman’s terms, as Drew Reagan, DarkSky’s senior communications manager, said, “When it comes down to it, a visible galaxy on most nights of the year is what we’re looking for.”
While the town of Sun Valley, where Sun Valley Resort is located, is not a certified darksky community, it is held to the same standard, given that it is located within a darksky preserve. This put the resort in the perfect position to earn DarkSky’s first resort certification through their Approved Lodging program, which launches in 2023 but added resort-specific certification this year.
To achieve the required certification, the resort conducted a thorough inventory of all lighting on the property, as well as presented active or future demonstrations incorporating educational components and habitat conservation. Site inspections during the application process, as well as annual reports to be filed in the future, ensure that any DarkSky-certified entity remains in compliance. In terms of education, the resort recently built a new toy store with darksky-themed rooms and items for sale, such as binoculars and star guides, that provide information on how guests can experience the reserve.
This certification not only exemplifies how a world-class resort and environmental stewardship can coexist, but is also a boon for Sun Valley, given the rise of astrotourism. Due to the open, clear skies in August 2017, tourists flocked to the area for the total solar eclipse. This new designation will certainly bring even more astrotourists to the area, a revenue avenue that should not be scoffed at as more and more ski resorts feel the need to move away from reliance on the shrinking ski season.
“Some of the prime times to see the night sky are in the fall and spring, so to be able to be active during those shoulder seasons I think will be really great,” said Betsy Siesel, sustainability manager for Sun Valley Resort.
the dark sky disappearing
According to Reagan, astrotourism can be a double-edged sword, as experiencing the night sky draws more supporters for dark sky missions, but more visitation often invites more light pollution. “Responsible astrotourism is really important,” says Reagan. “Many people are turning to these experiences as light pollution continues to increase and more people live under light-polluted skies and experience seeing the Milky Way for the first time.”
They saw that our night sky was potentially entering an era of rapid change. satellite proliferation and new technologies such as mirrored orbital (which builds satellites with space mirrors to reflect sunlight back to Earth at night), he believes the fear that the night sky will change is driving more people to experience the skies and advocating for preserving this cultural heritage.
He is quick to point out that DarkSky is not against lighting or innovation – rather, DarkSky advocates for responsible lighting (such as those that restrict upward-directed light, avoid glare, use dimmers and reduce blue light), hence the stringent criteria for obtaining one of the organization’s certifications.
Sun Valley Resort’s first official astrotourism program as a DarkSky-certified resort, Stars over Sun ValleyWill happen on 12th August. Guests will ride the Sunset Gondola up Bald Mountain to the historic Roundhouse, located at 7,700 feet, to enjoy dinner, drinks and an intensive astronomy program led by experts and view the Perseid Meteor Shower.
Although the event has already sold out, it is a good omen that there will be huge demand for these types of events in the future. Siesel says that in addition to offering guests guided stargazing experiences and astronomy-focused programs, there will also be free events, and guests are encouraged to visit some of the resort’s properties that offer spectacular views of the sky, like Dollar Mountain Lodge, the Roundhouse at Trail Creek, and Bald Mountain.
Of course, the Sun Valley area is chock-full of trails, overlooks, peaks, open fields and camping sites for everyone to enjoy this public amenity. “The stars are for everyone,” Siesel said. “We’re looking forward to continuing to use the incredible locations at the resort to show people our incredible night sky.”
Hayden Seder has spent most of his life living in Ketchum, Idaho, enjoying the stars during outdoor adventures. Their stories about the outdoors have come to light backpacker, Ascent, freeskierand more.
